Self Love

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” ~ Buddha 

All too often we, especially caregivers, give the majority of our time and attention to those we care for and that can leave us emotionally drained. How often do you take the time out of your day to honestly care for yourself? How do you talk to yourself throughout the day? Do you treat yourself as you would treat someone you love? 

“Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve.” (Self-Love and What It Means)

So, what actions can you do to support your growth? 

Personal Love Notes

Some days we need a little extra motivation to practice self-love. When our day is difficult, we might need a push in the right direction to support ourselves. 

We can set ourselves up ahead of time with personal self love affirmations. If we already have a practice in place to take care of ourselves then we won’t get overwhelmed trying to find a solution. 

Try This

• Print out a list of self love affirmations - one per line with space between statements (follow the link below for a list)
• Cut them into strips
• Find a jar or box to hold them in
• Decorate the box to make it beautiful 
• Fold all the affirmations into small pieces 
• When you need a boost in your mood, pull out an affirmation and read it out loud to yourself
• Repeat until you feel a little better

References:

• 120 Self-Love Affirmations to Become Kinder to Yourself
• 34 Ways to Practice Self-Love and Be Good to Yourself
• Self-Love and What It Means